More Ice Packs Than Ice Time

Battered Rangers Fighting For Patrick Playoff Berth

Rangers Welcome All-star Break

February 05, 1993|By JEFF JACOBS; Courant Staff Writer

NEW YORK — Before the New York Rangers hoist their first Stanley Cup in 53 years, they'll need to make the playoffs.

And with the resurgent Islanders forcing a four-team race for the final three Patrick Division playoff spots -- the second and fifth-place teams are separated by four points at the All-Star break -- this is far from certain.

When the grand prognosticators of hockey decided this was the Year of the Rangers, their crystal balls were a little out of focus. For this is the year of Rangers controversy, the year of a Rangers coaching change and the year of injury after confounding injury.

The Rangers, 4-4-5 since coach Ron Smith replaced Roger Neilson, limped into the All-Star break a mentally tired and physically beat bunch. Yet the new coach and his three best players swore they are ready to blast off in the right direction in the final three months.

"We weren't playing well and, basically, that's the reason Roger was fired," injured defenseman Brian Leetch said. "It's exciting for me to see the way the guys have played recently. It is much more of a skating game. I see a lot more creative things out there than we had been doing in the past. It was getting easy to beat us there for a while." Said center Mark Messier, whose dispute with Neilson led to the firing: "I like what I see. We're learning to play as a team." But with Leetch and Messier out, right wing Mike Gartner is carrying the Rangers (23-21-9) and, better than anyone, he seems to recognize the pressure of the Big Apple. "We're not paid just to play in this town, but to win," he said. "That's the way it is for all teams in New York. We're cutting down errors and playing attacking, pressure, high-tempo hockey now."

When the Rangers return Monday against New Jersey, Messier, who has missed six games with sprained ligaments in his right wrist, and James Patrick, who has missed four with a sprained left knee as

one of five injured defensemen, are expected to play. But when he saw Phil Bourque collide with teammate Sergei Nemchinov and join seven other injured Rangers with a sprained left knee, Smith could only roll his eyes and wish he didn't have to send Gartner to the All-Star Game in Montreal and risk another injury. Bourque will be out three to four weeks.

"Our schedule caught up with us," Smith said after Gartner scored twice to again bail out the Rangers in a 2-2 tie with Philadelphia Wednesday. "After I yelled at them after the first period, I realized no amount of yelling was going to revive the legs. Our heart and heads took over even though our legs didn't show up. The All-Star break comes at a perfect time. When we come back, we'll be ready to take off."

Although Smith has been called a Neilson clone by critics, he does have a quicker sense of humor than Captain Video. Kidding about exciting Russian rookie Alexei Kovalev's penchant for overhandling the puck: "He sure looked to go with it tonight. The puck's got his name on it. I guess Gil Stein [the NHL president's signature is on the puck] is an alias for Kovalev. Sometimes he loves his moves so much he beats the same guy three times."

But Smith won't have his most dazzling power-play point man back until mid-March at the earliest. Leetch, who sustained nerve damage in his neck and left shoulder Dec. 17 when he missed a check and slammed headfirst into the boards, met with reporters after returning from four days in Florida.

"It's rest and vitamin B until after the All-Star break," Leetch said. "I'll definitely be back by April."

Leetch had thought he was getting closer and closer to a return. "But the progress in my shoulder wasn't really changing much," he said. "It got to be drag, skating and riding the bike extra. When I found out [last week] I'd be out at least six more weeks, the coaches suggested I get away and refresh myself." After the Florida trip and the All-Star break, Leetch said he will take "a second training-camp approach," starting with off-ice training and, eventually, practicing with his teammates in March.

"It's not too bad being around the guys during practice," Leetch said. "But when I come to the rink for games, I watch mostly on TV. It's hard for me to go out [into the arena] and watch it live." Leetch, replaced by teammate Kevin Lowe on the All-Star team after being voted a starter by the fans, is making the trip to Montreal. He said he promised some friends he would take them.

"But I am coming right back after the game Saturday to see the fight [Riddick Bowe against Michael Dokes at Madison Square Garden] at night. I hope I'm back in time." Meanwhile, Gartner, with 34 goals, replaces the injured Messier for the All-Star Game. He deserves to be there on his own merit. Gartner set an NHL record Jan. 23 with his 14th successive season with at least 30 goals, and his 572 career total puts him one behind Mike Bossy for sixth on the all-time list.

"Gartner is playing great," Smith said. "He hit the post in overtime after scoring twice [against the Flyers]. He could have been 100,000 percent hero instead of the 100 percent hero he has been." "`My kids Josh and Natalie are 8 and 6. Going to Montreal will be a good family time for my wife and I," Gartner said. "With the players association meetings [Gartner is a vice president], skills competition [Gartner had the best qualifying time in the fastest skater competition] and the game, it'll be very busy." But

with the All-Star break, no practices are allowed for the Rangers until 2 p.m. Sunday. And Smith said he won't hold one that day.

"I guess they can go to the public skate at Rye [Playland]," Smith said. "Of course, there's 400 people on the ice. Gartner could take one stride and 47 people would get knocked down. Imagine all the injuries -- as if we don't have enough already."